The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER—A much-loved sea otter that won the hearts of Vancouver Aquarium’s staff and visitors while recovering from gunshot wounds has died.
“Walter,” also affectionately known as “Wally,” was rescued from a Tofino, B.C. shoreline on Oct. 19, 2013 after locals reported a sea otter that appeared lethargic.
Veterinarians soon discovered he was blind and suffering from gunshot wounds, so they amputated part of his flipper, cared for his injuries, and even performed a root canal.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada determined he couldn’t be released because he was blind and in poor health, so the aquarium became his home.
The aquarium said Walter’s last years were happy and pain-free, but his health began to deteriorate in the spring.
He started to slow down and no longer could groom himself.
A CT scan was scheduled for Walter in the coming weeks, but the aquarium said he died early yesterday at an estimated age of 15-17 years.
